Good news ! Ladurée, purveyor of fine quality macarons and pastries, has opened a branch at 864 Madison Avenue (at 71st Street) in New York. Ladurée hasn’t just been selling macarons since 1862, they invented them. To get a feel for the beauty of the product, watch “The Ladurée Dream” video at their web site by clicking on the link, above. Their stores and tea rooms are simply gorgeous little palaces of gourmandize. I remember eating a rose and raspberry macaron in Ladurée in Paris. I felt like they’d captured the very soul of the flower. It was exquisite.

Today’s expression, être au septième ciel (etruh oh set-e-m see-l), means “to be in seventh heaven.” This is just like the English expression that conveys extreme joy. You’ll certainly be in seventh heaven if you treat yourself to a box of Ladurée macarons and they make simply splendid gifts in their elegant packaging.